Abstract: In a weapon system having a recoiling component, recoil-free component, a first electronic system disposed on the recoiling component, a second electronic system disposed on the recoil-free component, a trailing cable is continuously electrically connected between the first and second electronic systems. A tension-relieving mechanism is coupled between the recoiling component and the recoil-free component in a substantially tension free manner and mounts the trailing cable such that the trailing cable is substantially free of tension. The tension relieving mechanism is mounted in a resilient manner on the recoiling component of the weapon system.

Abstract: A projectile, particularly a kinetic energy projectile, whose nose cone is cooled due to the provision of an ablation layer and a thermal insulation layer (8, 9) on the exterior of the metal hood (4) of the projectile nose cone, and due to a highly thermally conductive medium in the spaces (5, 6) between the hood (4) and the payload (3) particularly a penetrator, of the projectile.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gun tube having a spin curve with a variable spin angle as well as a rifling force R(x) over the path of the projectile (x) through the gun tube when a projectile is fired, as well as a predetermined caliber d, projectile mass m.sub.G, mass moment of inertia J about the longitudinal axis of the projectile, gas pressure force P(x) on the projectile bottom and projectile velocity v(x). In order to realize, within the framework of manufacturing tolerances, an accurate spin curve corresponding to diverse desired characteristics of the rifling force, it is provided that the rifling force R(x) is determined according toR(x)=R.sub.max R.sub.n (x)where R.sub.max is the maximum rifling force value which is a function of a predetermined final spin angle .beta..sub.E and R.sub.

Abstract: A performance enhanced ammunition unit composed of a front ammunition component (1) and a rear ammunition component (2) which each include a combustible propelling charge casing (7, 12), with the rear ammunition component being filled with propelling charge powder that has been compressed into a compressed member (15). The rear ammunition component (2) has a casing bottom (13) which accommodates a bottom igniter (14) and the compressed member (15) accommodates a combustible ignition tube (16) for the propelling charge igniter (16, 17), with the combustible tube 16 being in operative engagement with the bottom igniter (14) and extending along substantially the entire axis of the bottom component. Both ammunition components (1, 2) are separated by a combustible disk (18), the front ammunition member (1) is filled in its cylindrical section (8) filled with powder rods (10) and in its section (a) ahead of the powder rods with bulk propelling charge powder (11).

Abstract: A drive member for the projectile head of a large caliber, multi-purpose cartridge or a multi-purpose training cartridge, wherein a threaded connection is provided for the form-locking connection between the drive member and the projectile head. In order to give such multi-purpose cartridges or corresponding multi-purpose training cartridges a modular configuration, with their assembly taking place only at their location of use, the drive member is provided with radial bores that start at its outer edge or periphery at its end facing the projectile head. Before joining the projectile head and the drive member, a holding and clamping device is then introduced into these bores so as to securely hold the drive member when the respective projectile head is screwed to the drive member.

Abstract: A wedge-type breechblock is disposed at the breech end of a gun. A cartridge chamber having a length L1 in the wedge-type breechblock accommodates propellant igniters, with obturation being effected by the respective propellant igniters. A firing mechanism operatively disposed at the wedge-type breechblock detonates propellant igniters loaded into the cartridge chamber from a magazine. A propellant igniter magazine is disposed adjacent the wedge-type breechblock and includes a guide chute and individual propellant igniters lined up in a row in the guide chute. The propellant igniters each have a casing and a length L2 which is greater than the length L1 of the cartridge chamber so that when a propellant igniter is loaded in the cartridge chamber in a firing position, a rear portion of the propellant igniter remains within the casing.

Abstract: An apparatus for screen printing a conductor pattern on a circuit board blank includes a receiving frame having a nest for seating the circuit board blank. The nest includes a porous stone having a surface for supporting the circuit board blank. Air is drawn through the porous stone for urging the circuit board blank against the porous stone. There is further provided a screen printing mechanism for printing on the circuit board blank seated in the nest.

Abstract: A method and to a sensor for determining the distance of sound generating targets, preferably wheeled or track-laying vehicles, from acoustic signals which are subjected to a Fourier transformation. In order to determine the target distance easily and reliably, it is provided that the acoustic signals received by an acoustic sensor at two successive points in time from a target that is at a distance r.sub.1 and r.sub.2, respectively, from the acoustic sensor are employed, after the Fourier transformation, for an evaluation of the phase difference in the sound spectrum which yields the difference between the distances of the target from the sensor at the two points in time, from which difference the target distance is then calculated according to the spherical wave model.

Abstract: A method of pre-treating steel-hybrid circuit board substrates or carrier plates before the application of coatings that are to be burnt in or fired. In prior art steel-hybrid circuit boards of this type, the burning-in of the coatings in a kiln produces undesirable warping of the circuit boards due to the different coefficients of thermal expansion of the materials employed for the coatings and for the carrier plates, unless relatively thick steel-hybrid circuit board carrier plates are employed. This warping is avoided, while still permitting the use of steel hybrid circuit boards of a lesser thickness, by pre-treating the steel-hybrid circuit board carrier plates to provide same with a mechanical pre-stress causing a defined curvature which compensates for the warping of the circuit board to be expected during burn-in.

Abstract: An ejector system for the extraction of cartridge casings from a tubular weapon provided with two ejector levers that are pivotal about an axis. Prior art ejector systems of this type have the drawback in that the ejector claws which pull the cartridge casing out of the cartridge chamber after firing are fastened directly to the ejector levers so that, due to the circular arc movement of the ejector claws, the cartridge casings are ejected in an undefined direction of flight from round to round. However, large caliber weapons, particularly those equipped with automatic loading mechanism, require a defined ejection path of the cartridge casings. To avoid the above drawbacks, the disclosed ejector system fastens each ejector claw to an ejector that is linearly displaceable parallel to the longitudinal axis of the gun barrel.

Abstract: A casing bottom or stub casing for a propelling charge casing whose base plate (1) has an exterior or outer surface which is curved inwardly in an annular region (7) so that the casing bottom is able to sufficiently axially expand under the high gas pressure developing during firing without requiring the use of a high strength material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of disassembling large-caliber combat cartridges, particularly armor-piercing cartridges, including a combustible casing jacket that conically widens in the direction of the projectile, a casing bottom and a casing cover to which is fastened a sub-caliber projectile equipped with a propelling sabot.To be able, on the one hand, to reduce expenditures for the disassembly of such combat cartridges and, on the other hand, to reuse a major portion of the original combat cartridges for the production of corresponding training cartridges, it is proposed to separate the casing jacket as well as the casing cover starting at their outer circumference, in regions having approximately the same, predetermined diameter D1. This diameter D1 here corresponds to the maximum diameter of the component of the new cartridge to be produced later from the disassembled components.

Abstract: An electromagnetic accelerator arrangement includes a stationary arrangement including at least one stationary primary coil, and a movable arrangement including at least one moveable secondary coil. The planes of the stationary and the moveable coils are parallel to a direction of movement of the moveable arrangement. The coils of the stationary and the movable arrangements have approximately the same coil width in the direction of movement of the moveable arrangement and transversely thereto, as well as the same coil separation in the direction of movement of the moveable arrangement. The at least one stationary primary coil includes at least two layers between which the at least one secondary coil of the movable component is movably disposed, the distance between the layers being kept small transversely to the direction of movement of the moveable arrangement.

Abstract: A ram head for possibly two-part ammunition which is provided at its bottom with a central rotationally symmetrical form-locking zone. In order to be able to unload the ammunition, a housing (1) is provided with a ring (11) that is arranged to be axially displaceable therein and is provided with a plurality of radially pivotally articulated extraction levers (12), with the extraction levers (12) being spreadable against a spring bias by a plunger (25). The ring is coupled with a slide sleeve (22) that is provided with a centering ring (23) having a shape corresponding to the form locking zone of the ammunition and the axial movement of the ring (11) and of the plunger (25) is controllable by an eccentric shaft (8) mounted on the housing.

Abstract: A redundant ammunition flow device for supplying divided, large caliber ammunition to a loading tray of a gun mounted on a turret of a vehicle for adjustment in elevation about a trunnion includes at least two magazines disposed in the vehicle chassis. Each magazine is a closed loop and includes a plurality of first holders that accommodate in an upright position either a projectile or a propelling charge column which make of the ammunition. A guide formed of a ring segment is fixed to the chassis concentric with the turret rotation axis. Two ammunition transporters are mounted for displacement on the guide to receive at a respective transfer position either a projectile or a propelling charge column from the first holders. Each transporter includes a rotary arm carrying a feed arm supporting second holders for holding a projectile or a propelling charge column.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for producing a large-caliber ammunition unit including a combustible or partially combustible propelling charge casing and compacted or partially compacted propelling charge powder, to increase internal ballistic performance. It is known to partially or completely compact or compress the propelling charge powder in a cartridge casing. However, such methods generally cannot be employed for ammunition including a combustible or at least partially combustible propelling charge casing because of the lower strength of the relatively thin-walled combustible casing material, as this would lead to deformation and/or to reduced loadability of such cartridges.

Abstract: A subcaliber kinetic energy projectile (1) including a penetrator (2) and a segmented sabot (3) which is provided with a front support (4) and with a second support (5) that is disposed at an axial distance behind the first support, with the second support (5) including a rotationally symmetrical air pocket (6) that faces the first support (4) and the first support (4) is provided with air passage openings (43, 44, 45).In the sabot, the relationship of L/D.gtoreq.1.2 exists between the length L of the penetrator tip (8) ahead of the first support (4) and the caliber D. The relationship x.gtoreq.0.45 * .iota. further applies between the distances x and .iota., with x being the distance between the trailing edge (10) of the sabot and the base surface (11) of the air pocket (6) in the second support (5) and .iota. being the distance between the trailing edge (10) of the sabot (3) and the leading edge (12) of the sabot at the surface of the penetrator (2).

Abstract: A modular propellant charge (10) composed of N propellant charge modules (1; 11-16) each having a length Lo. In order to obtain an economical, durable, easily released connection between the propellant charge modules (1; 11-16), a displaceable sleeve (6; 17-22) of a length L is axially slidably arranged on the exterior of each propellant charge module (1; 11-16) with the relationship ##EQU1## applying for the length L. The displaceable sleeves are utilized to interconnect adjacent modules.

Abstract: A chain rammer for ammunition includes a ram head, a rammer drive including two drive wheels connectable to a rotary drive for rotating the drive wheels and two separate chain strands each being connected with the ram head and each passing through the rammer drive for being driven in one of a chain advance and chain reversal direction by a respective one of the two drive wheels. The chain strands are arranged to come into abutting relationship at the rammer drive when driven in the chain advance direction and for separating from the abutting relationship at the rammer drive when driven in the chain reversal direction. Each chain strand includes chain links having hooks arranged to grasp an oppositely disposed chain link when the strands come together at the rammer drive in the chain advance direction to establish a firm mechanical connection between the two chain strands and so that such connection is released again when the chain strands move in the chain reversal direction.

Abstract: A projectile for a surface-to-surface weapon to combat a target from the top. The projectile includes a warhead; a propulsion system for accelerating the projectile directly after the projectile is placed in flight; a stabilizing guide assembly; a sensor for detecting a target in a longitudinal and lateral direction; and a pulse generator for turning the projectile about its center of gravity. The projectile additionally includes electronics for activating the warhead and for controlling the propulsion system and the pulse generator. A control unit rotates independently of the shaped charge warhead and houses the sensor, pulse generator and electronics. The pulse generator is arranged offset with respect to the sensor in the circumferential direction of the control unit.